Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-05-19
WOMAN GOSSIP,
Mira Iothrop's Methods of Work aai Hsr
Life in Hawthorne's Old Home at Con-
cord.-A Southern Heroine's Bravery.
Margaret sidney.


lie called, Mrs. Lothrop, was born to
Literary career, SAYS writer in TN
boston Record. A member of famil,
remarkable for their love of letters
although none of them are writers, her
earliest recollections are Of hiding be-
meath the table and behind the chairs.
where she wrote the most wonder
full fairy tales. These were no sooner
completed than they were consigned to
tho flames. Thus Throughout her
childhood she was constantly writing
and destroying because of a conscious
ness of the crudeness of her work. At
length the story of the Five Little
Peppers" seemed to be worthy to see
the light. and it was given to the
world. Margaret Sidney then became
known to the world at once as an au.
thor of reputc. Subsequent writings
have not dimmed the reputation thus
won.
Mrs. Lcthrop, in her literary work,
from the force of circumstances, can
not b, said to follow well-defned
system. Yet there is much about her
method that is of interest. Her time
is so closely occupied with multitude
of social duties that it is often a matter
of wonder to her friends that she sue
cceds in finding the necessary time in
which to perform her literary work.
But she has remarkable faculty of
the concentration of mind, and, when
walking or driving, or in the midst of
graVer duties, suggestions for stories
and sketches often come into her mind,
which in the next odd moment find
their way upon paper.
Not only is much of Mrs. Lothrop's
time consumed in social duties, but
work on the executive boards of various
charities occupies much of her attention.
Here, too, docs her taste for literary
work find much employment. Her pen
IS frequently busy in the production of
papers in the interest of the cause of
missions, the Sunday school, and cdu-
calional and literary circles. In this
work, which Is wholly labor of love,
without reward except such as comes
rom consciousness of well-dong,
Mrs. Lothrop takes great delight, and
always responds to all demands upon
her pen, 10 the exclusion even of work
which might add to her literary rcputa-
ton.
1t is not title curious that, strong
as are many Of Mrs. Lothrop's char
RctcrS none of them are sketches from
life, but arc rather portrait IS of types of
human nature. An example of this is
seen in Judith Pettibone, a strong,
decisive character, who is seen still
IN many a New Englanl country
home. The race which found its
inception among puritan settlers,
gifted with strong common sense,
rigid regard for the right according to
biblical rule, tender conscience and
large heart to feel for human ills has
ed by education, literature, and the re-
timing influences Of city life, which now
extend to the most remote hamlets, the
Judiths Of to-day have lost the quaint
dialect which distinguished them
century ago. Indeed, Mrs. Lothrop's
Judith herself has felt this refining in
tlucnce. lct the sturdy puritan flavor
fingers about these New England types
of character.
1t is to the study of types. then, that
Mrs. Lothrop devotes herself, and not
to the task of photographing before
the view of her readers the character
istirs of especial persons who may have
attracted her attention.
in her poetical work Mrs. Lothrop
works with extreme care and caution.
Az idea for poem suggests itself to
her mind. In a nebulous form alone
first appears. Little by little, as her
mind dwclls upon it, the form appears
more. distinct and fully defined. In a
stray moment it is committed to paper;
hurridly, perhaps, and laid aside for
= few days. Then, when the glow of
composition has passed away. the poem
is brought out trimmed, pruned, and
polished and again laid away for a
time. Again and again is this process
repeated, until after. perhaps the tenth
revision she regards the poem as final
Iy complete, and passes it to the pub
lisher's hands.
An interesting fact in connec ton
with Mrs. Lothrop, from literary
point of view. is that she makes her
home in spot sacred to the purest and
best in American letters. A few years
ago it was announced that "The Way
slir,' the home of Hawthorne, at Con-
cord, was offered for sale. But few
hours ha! passed after the announce
,nent was made before it became the
property of Mr.. Lothrop. Here with
bis gifted wife and their little daughter,
Or. Lothrop makes his home during
many months of the year, returning to
his home in the city only when driven
70 shelter by the whtstling winds and
flying leaves and snowlakes. 1t is
when domicled in this delightful home
that society duties are somewhat relax
nd and Mrs. Lothrop has more leisure
70 devote to her literary labors. The
famous study in the tower, where flame
was won' by the great romancer, is
her worship as well. In this literary
atmosphere Mrs. Lothrop calls hel
characters about her, peopling the quiet
room with her imagination. They are
real to her, and as she sits and drink
in the views from the windows upor
which Hawthorne used to gaze she al
most sees the people, great and small
of whom she writes.
1t IS not little unusual that, when
story evolves itselfin the authors brain
the location and the stage setting, a
it Were, come first into view, and ar,
afterward peopled by the characters o
the tale, So in the Five Little Pen